Freight loading and unloading winch for vehicles



v. T. WREN 2,016,130

FREIGHT LOADING AND UNLOADING WINCH-FOR VEHICLES Oct. l, 1935.

Filed Aug. 5, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 1, 1935.'` v. T. wREN 2,016,130

FREIGHT `LOADING AND UNLOADING WINCH FOR VEHICLES Inv@ /or 71/7/ AZ orne .5*

Oct. 1, 1935. v v. TjwRl-:N 2,016,130

FREIGHT LOADING AND UNLOADING WINCH FOR VEHICLES Filed Aug. s, 1934 3 sheets-sheet s f77/venia?" Cal Patented Oct. l, 1935 UNITED STATES rliTi-:lv'l'v OFFICE FREIGHT LOADING AND UNLOADING WINCH FOR VEHICLES This invention relates to power Winches which, although adaptable for many uses, are particularly adaptable for use in connection with freight loading and unloading devices for vehicles.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide a novel and improved triple action power winch of simple and inexpensive construction including three cable winding drums, each of which may be selectively independently driven from the same driving mechanism.

A more detailed object of the invention is to provide a novel power winch which can be effectively used in connection with my Freight loading and unloading device for vehicles disclosed in my co-pending application for patent so entitled, filed simultaneously herewith, Serial Number 738,217.

The objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the various views, and, in which,

Fig. l is a View in side elevation illustrating a vehicle equipped with a freight loading and unloading device, my triple action winch being mounted on the vehicle;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the vehicle shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation in enlarged scale showing the front portion of the vehicle, portions of the cab being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 5, andillustrating parts of my winch, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig.` 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on the line 5 6 of Fig. 5, asindicated by the arrows;

F'g. '7 is a vertical section taken on the line 'I-l of Fig. 5, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. 7, as indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9 is a vertcal section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, as indicated by the arrows; and

Fig. 10 is a Vertical transverse section taken through the floor boards of the cab and illustrating certain of the parts.

Referring to the drawings, there are illustrated certain portions of an ordinary truck chassis which include a chassis frame Il supported by front springs I2 and rear springs I3 from a wheel equipped front axle i4 and a wheel equipped rear axle I5 respectively. The truck chassis is provided with the usual cab I 6, the oor boards of which are designated by the numeral I 1 and in the cab there is provided the usual steering wheel I8 and foot clutch lever I9 which controls the drive from the engine of the vehicle through the transmission I8 to the propeller shaft I9. An auxiliary transmission opera-ted by a gear shift lever 2| is provided and through this transmission the engine of the vehicle may operate a drive shaft 22 when the gear shift lever 2l is thrown to thel proper position and the clutch of the vehicle operated from the clutch foot lever I9 is thrown in. The drive shaft 22 extends rearwardly from the auxiliary transmission 20.

In accordance with the invention disclosed in my above identified co-pending application, a number of cross sills 23 are connected to the side members of the chassis frame il and secured to the upper edges of these sills are a pair of longitudinally extending, spaced, parallel, channelshaped tracks 24. Mounted on the rear cross sill 23 are a pair of heavy brackets 25 having upwardly projecting arms within which a roller 26 is journaled, the upper surface of this roller k lying just above the intermediate webs of the tracks 24. The brackets also have lower rearwardly extending arms to which a tail gate 2'! is pivotally connected. This tail gate may be swung upwardly or downwardly and in its downward position it rests against a lpair of bars 28 which project rearwardly from the rear ends of side members of the chassis frame Il. Props 29 are pivoted to the rear ends of the bars 28. Four brackets 3ll are connected to the rear edge of the tail gate 2l and a shaft 3l is secured in these brackets and this shaft has mounted thereon a central sleeve roller 32 and two sleeve rollers 33, the latter two rollers being in line with the respective tracks 24. Channelshaped tracks 34 mounted on the upper surface of the tail gate 2l are in longitudinal alinement with the tracks 24. Heavy arms 35 project upwardly and somewhat rearwardly from the rear end of the tail gate 2l and these arms have forked upper ends within which sheaves 36 are mounted and keepers 31 attached to the arms extend over the sheaves 36. Another roller 38 projecting somewhat below the bars 28 is journaled in brackets attached to the rear end of the frame Il. A freight carrier 39 is provided and this freight carrier has a pair of skids 40 attached to its bottom and extending longitudinally of the body, the said skids being spaced the same distance apart as the tracks 24 and tracks 34.-

Hooks 4I are attached to the sides of the front end of the carrier 39 near its bottom and an eye 42 is centrally attached to the bottom of the carrier in spaced relation rearwardly somewhat from the forward end of the carrier.

A pair of cables 43 are provided and these cables run rearwardly from the forward part of the truck and normally extend over the sheaves 36 below the keepers 31 and they have attached at their rear ends cones 44 engageable with the hooks 4I. Another cable 45 normally extends rearwardly from the front part of the truck over the rollers 26 and 32 and this cable has attached to its rear end a hook 46 engageable with the eye 42. Still another cable 41 normally extends rearwardly from the front part of the truck below roller 38 and over roller 32 and this cable carries at its rear end a hook 48 also engageable with the eye 42.

The present invention has to do with meehanism'for4 operating lthe various cables 43, 45, and 41, or for operating independently any three cables mounted on the truck or elsewhere.

There is provided a suitable frame 49 attached preferablyto the side members of the chassis frame II immediately behind the cab I6 and below the level of the tracks 24. This frame has attached thereto near one end thereof a gear housing 58 to the forward end of which 'is attached another gear housing 5I within which the rear end of the drive shaft 22 is journaled. The drive shaft 22 carries a sprocket V52 within housing 5I and a sprocket chain 53 runs over the sprocket 52 and over a sprocket 54 mounted at `the forward end of a shaft 55 journaled in the housing 50, as best shown in Fig. 9. The shaft 55 carries a worm 56 meshed with a worm gear 51 disposed within housing 58 and fixed to a sleeve 58. Sleeve 58 is journaled at one end in the housing 58 and it projects for some little distance toward the opposite side of the truck from the sidenear which the housing 58 is located. A drum shaft 59 projects through the sleeve 58 and extends transversely of the truck from one side thereof to the other. This shaft is free for rotation relative to the sleeve 58 rand it is journaled in a bearing 68 at the right end of frame 49, as viewed in Figs. 4 and 5. Fixed to the drum shaft 59 at its outer ends are two winding drums 6I to which the forward ends of the two cables 43 are respectively secured, forward portions of these members being normally wound on these drums. Shifting movement of the drum shaft 59 is prevented by means of flanges 62 received within the bearing 68 and a collar 63 attached to the shaft and bearing against the left side of the housing 58.

. Journaled on the sleeve .58 to the right of the .housing 58v is a winding drum 64 to which the forward-end of the cable 41 is attached, forward portions of the cable being wound on this drum. Sliding movement of drum 6,4 relative to the sleeve 58 is prevented as by means of collars 65 attached to the sleeve. Another winding drum 66 is journaled on drum shaft 59 to the right of the right end of the sleeve 58, as viewed in. the drawings, `and the forward end of the cable 45 is attached to this drum and forward portions of the cable are normally wound on the drum.

lThe drum 66 is restrained from sliding movement relative to shaft 59 by means of collars 61 and 68.

The left face of drum 66 is provided with a large recess 69 within which a clutch element 1I! is received, this clutch element being interand extending transversely through the same. 5

To the left of the clutch element 18 the drum 66 is provided with a clutch element 1I formed as is an internal gear and the inner diameter of element 1I is somewhat greater than the diameter of the element 18. The drum 64 is provid- 10 ed with a clutch element 12 formed as is'an external gear and this element 12 projects from the right side of .drum 64 at the left of the right hand collar 65.

Splines 13 are provided on the portion of the 15 sleeve 58 projecting to the right of the right hand collar 65 and slidably mounted on the splined portion of the sleeve is a master clutch member 14. This clutch member has on its right hand face projecting teeth forming a clutch ele- 20 ment 15 for engagement with the clutch element 18 when the clutch member 14 is slid to its extreme right hand position. The master clutch member 14 has a peripheral external clutch element 16 formed thereon for engagement with 25 the clutch element 1I when the clutch member 14 is slid somewhat to the right of the position shown in Fig. 4. The master clutch member 14 is recessed on its left face to form a clutch element 11 for engagement with the clutch element 30 12 when the clutch member 14 is slid to its extreme left hand position. The clutch member 14 is also provided to the left of theelement 16 with a grooved shipper ring 18 within which the pins 19 of a shipper fork 88 are received. The 35 shipper fork 88, as best shown inf Fig. 7, is xed to a shaft 8I journaled in bearings 82 projecting downwardly from frame 49 and the shaft 8l runs forwardly to a point below a slot 88 in the fioor boards I1 of the cab. Attached to the 40 forward end of the shaft 8| is a spring pressed dog equipped hand lever 84, the dog of which is adapted to be engaged within any one of four notches in a sector secured to -the oor boards I1. It will be observed that when the 45 clutch member 14 is in the position shown in Fig.

4, none of the clutch elements of the clutch member will engage with the various clutch elements 18, 1I, and 12. By swinging the lever 84, the clutch member 14 may be slid longitudinally 50 of the sleeve 58 to selectively throw the respective clutch elements 15, 16 and 11 into engagement with the clutch elements 18, 1I, and 12.

One of the winding drums 6I, the left hand drum as viewed in the drawings, is provided with 55 a brake drum 86 adapted to be engaged by a brake band 81 attached to a brake shoe 88 secured at one end to a bracket 89 attached to frame 49, as best shown in Fig. 6. A rod 88 projects through a lug at the free end of the 50 shoe and through a lug on the bracket 89 and this rod runs forwardly to a point below the floor boards I1 of the cab I6. A spring 9I reacts between the lug oi' the brake shoe 88 and the lug on bracket 89 and lock nuts 92 con- 65 nected to the rear end of the rod 98, permit adjustment of the rod. The forward end of the rod 98 is pivotally connected to an arm 93 secured to a sleeve 94 through which a shaft 95 extends. A second sleeve 96 is also journaled 70 on the shaft 95, as best shown in Fig. 10. The shaft 95 extends transversely of the truck between the two side members of frame II and the two sleeves 94 and 96 are journaled in suitable bearings 91 connected to these side mem- 75 bers. An opening 98 is provided in the floor boards |'I above the inner ends of the two sleeves 94 and 96 and a spring pressed dog equipped hand lever 99 connected to the inner end of the sleeve 94 projects upwardly through the opening 98 to a point adjacentI the drivers seat of the cab I6. A toothed sector |00 attached to the floor boards cooperates with the dog of the lever 99. Very similar braking mechanism is provided for the winding drum 64, this braking mechanism not being illustrated in detail. The braking mechanism for the winding drum 64 includes a brake drum I0| formed on the drum 64, a brake band |02, a brake shoe |03 and an operating rod |04, which runs forwardly to a point below the opening 98 in the floor boards I1. The rod |04 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a spring pressed dog equipped hand lever |05 fixed to the shaft 95 between the inner ends of the two sleeves 94 and 96, as shown in Fig. 10. The dog of this lever |05 cooperates with a toothed segment |06 attached to the floor boards I I. There is also a braking mechanism provided for the winding drum 66 and this braking mechanism, although not shown in detail, is very`similar to the braking mechanism first described. The braking mechanism for the winding drum 66 includes a brake drum |01, formed on the drum |06, a brake band |08 cooperating therewith, a brake shoe |09 for the brake band and an operating rod ||0 running forwardly to a point below the sleeve 96. The rod III) is pivotaliy connected at its forward end to an arm I|| connected to sleeve 96 and the inner end of the sleeve has connected thereto 99 in the floor board I1. A toothed segment ||3 is provided for cooperation with the dog of the lever H2.

Operation During the operation 0I^ loading the freight carrier 39 onto the truck and unloading the carrier from the truck, it is necessary to independently operate the two drums 6|, the drum 64 and the drum 66, and it is desirable during the loading and unloading operations to be able to independently brake these various drums. This can all be done with my triple action power winch. It will, of course, be clear that when the drum shaft 59 is rotated, the two drums 6I will be turned to wind additional portions of the cables 43 thereon. It will also be clear that when the drum 66 is rotated, additional portions of the cable 45 will be wound on this drum. It

is equally obvious that when the drum 64 is rotated, additional portions of the cable 4'! will be wound on this drum. By manipulation of the hand lever 99, the brake band 'l may be engaged with the brake drum 86 to prevent rotation of the two drums 6| and the drum shaft 59. By operation of the hand lever ||2, the brake band |08 may be set against the brake drum |01 to prevent rotation of winding drum 66. By operation of the lever |05, the brake band |02 may be set against the brake drum |05 to prevent rotation of the winding drum 64.

When it is desired to operate the winch, the foot clutch lever I9 may be depressed and the auxiliary gear shift lever 2| may be shifted, whereupon when the lever vI9 is released the drive shaft 22 will be driven from the engine in well known manner. This shaft 22 through the sprocket 52, sprocket chain 53, sprocket 54,

shaft 55, worm 56 and worm gear 51 will drive the sleeve 58. When it is desired to operate the two winding drums 6|, the foot clutch lever I9 will be temporarily depressed and the lever 84 will be swung to its extreme right hand position, so that the dog of the lever is thrown into engagement with the extreme right hand notch of the sector 85. 'I'he foot clutch lever I9 may then be released, whereupon the drum shaft 59 and winding drums 6| will be rotated. As the lever 84 is swung from the neutral position shown in Fig. 8, to its extreme right hand position, the shaft 8| will be rocked and the shipper fork will slide the master clutch member I4 to its extreme right hand position, thereby carrying the clutch member 15 into engagement with the clutch member l0. The clutch member 10 will then be locked with the master clutch member 'I4 to cause the shaft 59 and the drums 6| mounted thereon to rotate with the sleeve 58 upon release of the foot clutch lever |9.

When it is desired to rotate the drum 66 to wind additional quantities of the cable 45 thereon, the lever 84 upon depression of the foot clutch lever I9 will be swung to such position that the dog of the lever engages within the second notch from the right of the sector 85. This will cause the master clutch member 'I4 to be shifted to a position where the clutch element 16 engages with the clutch element and upon release of the foot clutch lever I9, the drum 66 will be locked into engagement with the master clutch member 14, so as to rotate within the sleeve 58. When it is desired to wind additional quantities of the cable 4'| onto the winding drum 64, lever 84 will be swung to its extreme left hand position upon depression of the foot clutch lever I9 and the master clutch member 'I4 will be slid to its extreme left hand position to throw the clutch element TI into engagement with the clutch element 12. Then upon release of the foot clutch lever i9, the winding drum 64 will be locked into engagement with the master clutch member 14 and the drum 64 will be rotated with the sleeve 58.

It will be observed that unless the various brakes are applied to the various winding drums, the winding drums are free to turn and quantities of cable may be drawn of the same as desired.

It should perhaps be stated that in loading the freight carrier 39 onto the truck, the cones 44 are first engaged with the hooks 4I, whereupon the drums 6| are rotated to wind additional quantities of the cables 43 onto these drums, until such time as the forward ends of the skids 44 are raised above the level of the rollers 33. The

drums 6I are then braked by operation of the brake lever 99, whereupon the hook 46 will be engaged with the eye 42 and, if desired, the hook 48 may also be engaged with this eye. The bra-ke drum 66 is then operated to draw additional portions of the cable 45 onto the same and to draw the freight carrier 39 onto the truck, the skids 40 being first received in the tracks 34 and then received in the tracks 24.

In unloading the freight carrier 39 from the truck, the hook 48 having been engaged with the eye 4Z, the winding drum 64 will be operated to draw additional quantities of the cable 4`I onto the same. As this cable 4`| runs under the roller 38,

and over the rear portion of roller 32, the freight carrier will be slid off the truck as the drum 64 `is rotated. When the rear end of the freight carrier has been carried a short distance beyond the end of the tail gate 21, the winding drums 6| and 66, or one of them at least, will be braked be dropped.

In loading or unloading the freight carrier 39 from or to a platform higher than the level of the tracks 24, the tail gate 21 will be swung upwardly by operation of the drums 6I, the cones I4 engaging between the keepers 31 and the sheaves 36 as the cables 43 are wound up thereby causing the tail gate 21 to swing to upward position. When swung upwardly, the tall gate 21 will be held in this position by applying the brake for the drums Bl through operation of the brake lever 99.

It will be seen that I have provided an extremely compact and efficient triple action winch, which is particularly applicable for use with my freight loading and unloading device, the application for patent on which is above identified. The Winch of the present invention, is, of course, capable of many other uses than in connection withA my freight loading and unloading device.

' It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of the present invention, which, generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forth in the I appended claims.

What is claimed is:-

1. A triple action power winch comprising in combination, a power drive shaft, a suitably journaled sleeve, means for transmitting power from said power drive shaft to said sleeve, a second shaft projecting through said sleeve but rotatable independently of said sleeve, a first cable winding drum mounted on said second shaft, a second cable winding drum journaled on said second shaft, a third cable winding drum journaled on said sleeve and means for selectively driving said three drums from said sleeve.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, and brakes respectively controlling rotation of respective drums.

3. A triple action power winch for motor driven vehicles comprising in combination, a power shaft driven from the motor of the vehicle, a suitably journaled sleeve extending crosswise of the vehicle, means for transmitting power from said power shaft to said sleeve, a second shaft projecting through said sleeve but independently rotatable respective thereto, a first cable winding drum mounted on said second shaft, a second cable winding drum journaled on said second shaft, a third cable winding drum journaled on said sleeve, and means for selectively independently driving A' said three drums from said sleeve.

tively on said second shaft, said second winding drum and said third winding drum with which said master .clutch may be selectively engaged whereby any one of said drums may be selectively rotated. 5

5. A triple action power winch comprising in combination a powerdrive shaft, a suitably Journaled sleeve, means for driving said sleeve from said drive shaft, a second shaft extending through said sleeve, a first cable winding drum secured l0 to said second shaft, a second cable winding drum journaled on said second shaft, a third cable winding drum journaled on said sleeve, a master clutch member mounted on said sleeve between said second and third drums but slidable longitudinally of said sleeve, means for sliding said clutch member, said clutch member carrying three clutch elements, a clutch element mounted on said second shaft and exclusively engageable with one of the clutch elements of said clutch member when said member is slid to one position, a clutch element on said second drum and exclusively engageable with another of the clutchelements of said member when said member is slid to a second position and another clutch element mounted on said third drum and exclusively engageable with the remaining clutch element of said member when said member is slid to a third position.

6. The structure defined in claim 5, and independently operable brakes for the respective drums.

7. A triple action power winch comprising in combination, a power drive shaft, a suitably journaled sleeve, means for driving said sleeve from said drive shaft, a drum shaft extending through said sleeve and projecting beyond the ends of the same, a rst cable winding drum mounted on said drum shaft, a second cable winding drum journaled on said drum shaft, a third cable winding drum journaled on said sleeve, a clutch member splined for sliding movement on said sleeve between said second and third drums, said second drum being recessed at one side thereof and having a clutch element formed on said recessed portion, a clutch element xed to said drum shaft and received within said recess, a clutch element formed on said third drum, said member having a clutch element formed on one face thereof for engagement with said clutch element on said drum shaft when said member is shifted to one position, said member having another clutch element engageable with said clutch element on said second drum when said member is shifted to a second position and said member having a third clutch element engageable with the clutch element on said third drum when said member is shifted to a third position, said member being shiftable to a central fourth position where none of its clutch elements engage, and means for shifting said member.

8. A triple action power winch comprising in combination a power drive shaft, a first suitably journaled rotatable member, means for transmitting power from said power drive shaft to said first rotatable member, a second rotatable member adjacent but rotatable independently of said first member, a first cable winding drum mounted on said second member, a second cable winding drum journaled on one of said members, a third cable winding drum journaled on one of said members and means for selectively driving said three drums from said first member.

9. A triple action power winch comprising in combination a power drive shaft, a first suitably journaled rotatable member. means for transmitting power from said power drive shaft to said rst rotatable member, a second rotatable lmember adjacent but rotatable independently of said ilrst member, a iirst cable winding drum mounted on said second member, a second cable winding drum journaled on one of said members, a third cable Winding drum journaled on one of said members, means for selectively driving said three drums from said rst member, and vindependently operable brakes for the respective drums.

10. A triple action power winch comprising in combination a power drive shaft, a suitably Journaled sleeve member. means for transmitting power from said power drive shaft to said sleeve member, a shaft member projecting through said sleeve member but rotatable independently of said sleeve member, a first cable winding drum mounted on said shaft member, a second cable winding drum journaled on one of said members, a third cable winding drum journaled on one of said members and means for selectively driving said three drums from said sleeve member.

VINCENT T.. WHEN` 

